Wave-motor.



F. H. FARMER. WAVE MoTon. APPLIUATIQI PIL-ED JUNE 12, 1909.

Patented Nov. 8,1910.

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wAvl: Io'ro. APPLIOATIOI FILED JUNE 12, 1009.

Patented Nov.s,191o.

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mNK H. FARMER, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFQBNIA, ASSIGNOB, BY HESN A SLiIG'N` MENTS, T0 LUTHER SADLER, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFOBNICA.

wave-Moron.

Bpecicationot Letter; Patent.

To all whom it 'm'ay' concern: Y

Be it known that I, FRANK H. Farmen,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the cit 'and county of San Francisco, State o California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wave- Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention `"relates to improvements in lthat type of wave motor in which the movements of a oat or buoyant structure at anchor are applied to operate The object ofthe invention is to provide an improved wave motor wherein the energy of the waves or the swell moving ,in any direction will be transformed into rotary motion of a shaft from" which power can be taken and applied 'to operate nia-- ohinery or transmitting mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel transforming means of apparatus having the quality of transforming the oscillations or the itching and rolling movements of a fio`at riding at anchor into motion either reci rocating or rotary or both, regardless ci)` the direction of the waves with relation to the float.

To such ends and obects chiey the invention comprises certain novel parts and combination of parts producing an improved wave motor wherein all the parts l and mechanism are mounted and carried on the float and are not immersed or submerged either wholly or partially in the water, but` are out of direct contact with and are not directly exposed to .thein- :fluence of the water.

. to reduce .the size of the figure.

plan or top-view of the head on the top of y the `penduluin, showing the connecting means between the pump-rods and the lever. Fig. `."i is a lan kor top-view ofthe axis or the suspending means for the pendulum.

The principal parts or features in a wave motor of my invention compriseva float a in the form of a closed buoyanty vessel with a space or compartment below the ydecl? a weight carrying in said space or compartment under the'deck from a universal joint or gimbal for `oscillating movement in va limited `arc in" any clirection, and meansconnfected with said pendulum operating tofconvert its movements in whatever direction vit may swing, into` rotary motion of a shaft.

The pendulu'mand all the mechanism .as 'well are mounted and carried on the deck of the float a, so as to bev entirel out of direct contact with' the water an not .exposed'to or directly acted on by the waves.

`The oat a is preferably constructedlike a barge, or is provided with a s ace or comlpartment below the deck of su cient dimensions to contain and inclose the pendulum; in which feature a Wave motor of my invention differs I:trom other apparatus having a swinging pendulum. l Instead of being inclosed, however, as shown. in Fig. 2, the pendulum can be mounted for oscillating movement above the deck by Araising the' point of suspension.

The pendulum is suspended in either ar ever b hung orsuspended Patentedfnov; s, 1910.

c n l a freely swinging pendulum, consisting o .a y

rangement by a gimbal and the' shorter y arm or member -3- of the pendulum lever extending above the deck carries a head -4- to which are connected at intervals around the circle the piston-rods or plungers'` of a series of pumps -5- so arranged that in whatever direction the pendulum mayfbe caused to swing under the rollin In the present construction each pump-rod is' connected with'the head 4 of the pendulum by a ball and socket joint consisting of a ball i7 on the end of the pump-rod d and a spherical socket 18 on the rim of the head,

of the float, one or more of the pumps wil 'operateas seen in Figs. 3 and 4; where the socket is composed of a split cup having a anged base by which the arts or sections are se'- the ball member 17 on the end ofthe pumprod. The sections of the cup-sha ed vsocket screws 19.

a tan-k -6- suppying a non-compressible aura; Such gs wat mi, 'mi also vii-ifa cured to the head a ,tery being placed around receiving tank -7- in which the fluid is pumped with thev effect to accumulate and maintain pressure by compression of the confined air 1n the tank. To thatl end the supply tank is under normal atmospheric presv sure, but the receiving tank is closed.

As arranged in the apparatus illustrated in the drawings the suction side or in let ports 22 of the pumps are all connected w1th the supply-tank 6 t rou h the plp 8; and the pressure side or out et ports 23 of the pumps are connected to the pressure tank 7 through the pipes 9.'A

It is evident that as the liquid in thereceiving-tank increases in. volume the pressure will rise in proportion and there w1ll be greater resistance thrown on the pistons, but this acting as a governor has the vef'ect to prevent the pressure from rising too high in the tank, an even oscillation of the pendulum. x

A relief valve of any well known construction is placed in the connection between the receivin tank 7 and the supply tank 6 so as to re ieve the pressure in.the former in the event of it becomin excessive. No special forln or style of re ief valve is required forthat purpose; it should be adjustable, however, to hold the Working pressure in the receiving tank to the point or degree at which it is desired to afford relief ingthe tank. It is not considered necessary to the clear understanding of the invention that such a relief valve should be articularl described or shown, as relief va ves are a ready known and used for similar purposes in a. variety of apparatus or machines. As the total vo ume of theliquidin the supply tank is placed at less than that in the receivin tank, the result is that in the event of all t e liquid being drawn oil by the pumps and accumulated in the receiving tank there will be air under compression in the receiving tank.

As illustrated in the drawing the energy developed and stored in the receiving 'tan through the compression of the fluid is utilized and applied to operate a hydraulic motor such as a turbine wheel by carrying a pipe I4- from the pressure taule to the casing of the motor, and connecting the discharge sides of the turbine with the supply tank; the turbine being set sulliciently above `the level of the deck to'cause the fluid .to

`Iv-return b gravity. The suction side or inlet ports o the pumps-are similarly located that the fluid may lowto the pumps by gravity or under conditions of the least resistance.y

In 'the present construction of the wave motor of my lnvention rotary motion is imparted to a shaft from which the power is taken to operate a dynamo electrical Ina-ll chine -15--. This is done by driving a,

to secure a more steady and turbine wheel with the energy developed in the fluid pressure tank -7-' and connecting the dynamo with the shaft -16- of the turbine wheel, or mounting them on a common shaft. Other modesor means of utilizing and applying the energy stored in the pressure tank to actuate maehineryor perform work can obviously be employed.

As thus constructed the wave motor of my invention is controlled and held in position where it will be exposed to the waves or regular swell by means of cables and anchors. The float or barge is preferably constructed to set high in the water; and to rock or roll while ridin at anchor.

Among other /applicatlons and uses of the invention it will be foundA well adapted to operate a whistle or other signal; to generate the electricity for-a signal light, and thus be employed as a marine 4buoy or a light boat.

' I claimt- 1. Awave motor comprisinga hollow float, an oscillating pendulum lnclosed by said float out of contact with the Water and suspended within the float for universal movement. in all directions around a circle having the point of oscillation for its center, and means or transforming into reciprocatinY movements in va ing directions radi-V al y from the center t e oscillations of the pendulum, comprising a plurality of cylinders having finlet and outlet orts connecting with a body of fluid, 1stons in said cylinders, andmeans connectlng said pistons with the pendulum for producing reciprocating movement of the pistons from the oscillations of the pendulum.

2.l "The combination of a float, a pendulumk suspended thereon out of contact with the water, a cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder, means forv operatively connecting the piston with the pendulum, 'a pressure tank and a supply-tank for a fluid and means connecting the suction side of the cylinder with the supply-tank and its pressure b;l le with the pressure tank.

3. In a Wave motor, the combination of a float, a pendulum suspended thereon out of contact with the water, a plurality of cylinders on said float, pistons operating in said cylinders, means operatively connecting the pistons with the pendulum, a supply-tank, v

mear.. connecting the cylinder with said -tank or'supplying fluid thereto, a. pressure tank, means connecting the said cylinders with the pressure tank, ahydraulic motor and means connecting said motor with the pressure tank. i

4. In a wave motor, the comblnation of a float, a universally swinging pendulum sus'- pended therein for operation ont'of contact wig the water, a plurality of pump-cylinde on the float, each having a piston and a pump-rnd mnl'mvl'cd with the pendulum by a universal jnint'` situated botwan thc pump-rnd and the head of the piston, ay snpply tank wnnected with the space in each cylinder on one side of the piston, @pres- .surer tank connected with the. Slmce in each cylinder 011 the apposite Side of the piston,

and a hydranlc motor arranged with relation t0 the prvssnro tank in be. opratorl by the pressure therefrom.

' FRANK H. FARMER.

ftnesses Y EDWARD E. OSBORN, M1 REGNE-n. 

